HOWTO: Install and use the latest FFmpeg and x264

[mc4man]

I went back and deleted the temp directories then tried just using the commands you layed out and it worked. but when I used the links to get the latest versions, I couldn't get ffmpeg to compile correctly.

You need for building ffmpeg both the libx264-XXX and companion libx264-dev packages installed

[FakeOutdoorsman]

FakeOutdoorsman,

this is the link I used

I went back and deleted the temp directories then tried just using the commands you layed out and it worked. but when I used the links to get the latest versions, I couldn't get ffmpeg to compile correctly.

I'm not sure why Bachstelze's x264 package didn't work for you. I've never tested it myself. I put a note on the guide mentioning that I can't support these packages, but I'll leave the link for those who want to use it.

After getting it installed and using the single pass preset to convert from avchd to h.264, the play back is still very lagging using gui-mplayer. Its a X2 amd with 2 gig of ram. How much horsepower does it take to play back h.264?

It depends on the video you are trying to play and if you have any type of hardware accelerated decoding (VDPAU or any of those fancy things). The users in the #ffmpeg or #x264 IRC channels will know if your hardware is adequate. Just make sure to use a pastebin service to show some info about your file. Give them the output of: ffmpeg -i input.foo.

[Cypress421]

One question, I have the Medibuntu repository, this won't update new codecs from Medibuntu over the FFmpeg or x264 builds i.e. overwrite the newest SVN codecs that I've compiled with older ones? Will Ubuntu via Update Manager ever overwrite these files either?

[bdebaere]

I have a problem at step 6. When you install ffmpeg. I executed every step so far including the optional one however when I get here it says:
ERROR: libx264 not found

when I try to execute the line in the terminal.
Any assisstance would be appreciated, thanks.

[Cypress421]

Did you follow the x264 instructions correctly?

[bdebaere]

Did you follow the x264 instructions correctly?

Yes, I'm quite sure as all I did was
CTRL+C
SHIFT+CTRL+V

EDIT: if I wanted to restart the whole process and just begin from step 1, what would I have to do?

[prupert]

One question, I have the Medibuntu repository, this won't update new codecs from Medibuntu over the FFmpeg or x264 builds i.e. overwrite the newest SVN codecs that I've compiled with older ones? Will Ubuntu via Update Manager ever overwrite these files either?

It shouldn't do, as Ubuntu will see that the SVN version is more recent than the Mediabuntu one.

However, if you enabled Mediabuntu to install an app that uses FFmpeg, you might find there are issues if that app requires a specific version of FFmpeg, as the newer SVN versions may not be compatable..

[prupert]

EDIT: if I wanted to restart the whole process and just begin from step 1, what would I have to do?

The easiest thing is, if you want to restart, is to issue:

sudo apt-get remove ffmpeg x264 libx264-dev

Then delete the two folders x264 and ffmpeg that you downloaded the source to.

Then you can start again.

[bdebaere]

The easiest thing is, if you want to restart, is to issue:

sudo apt-get remove ffmpeg x264 libx264-dev

Then delete the two folders x264 and ffmpeg that you downloaded the source to.

Then you can start again.

Ok I went trough the whole setup again and this time I could execute all commands without trouble. I do have some questions though:
With these installed, is it now possible for me to use this as codec in Pitivi?
Can I now convert to x264 with Downloadhelper addon for Firefox?

Thanks for your help

[prupert]

If they both support x264 then it should work....